Early Church and the Soul

[DarkMark]

I have two questions

1)Did the early Christian (100-200AD at least) teach that the soul is immortal? I’m having a hard time finding quotes, from the early church fathers, that actually teaching immortality of the soul.I only found one. Anyone have a complete list?

1. Many pagan religions and people (Greeks, Roman philosophers,Babylonians, Egyptians, etc) believe that the soul was immortal. My question is this. Was the early Christian Church influence by these pagan religion into believing that the soul was immortal? Many who oppose that the soul is immortal (SDA) state that this doctrine is of “pagan origin”. Many start believing that the soul is immortal because they were influence by pagan people.

 

[wjp984]

you have it backwards. We influenced them that their immortal soul was given to them by the one and only God and that Jesus died for them so that they may have eternal life in Heaven.

 

[DarkMark]

Edit: I said , “I’m having a hard time finding quotes, from the early church fathers, that actually teaching immortality of the soul.”. It should have been “I’m having hard time finding writings, from the early church fathers, that spoke about the immortality of the human soul.”

 

[George_Craft]

Good morning DarkMark,

From the earliest Church Father:

Mat 10:28 And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat 16:26 For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?

From the Epistle of Barnabas:

Chap. 1:
I am also on this account bound by the strictest obligation to love you above my own soul, because great are the faith and love dwelling in you, while you hope for the life which He has promised.
Chap.4:
Let us then utterly flee from all the works of iniquity, lest these should take hold of us; and let us hate the error of the present time, that we may set our love on the world to come: let us not give loose reins to our soul, that it should have power to run with sinners and the wicked, lest we become like them.
Chap.6:
For the prophet speaks against Israel, "Woe to their soul, because they have counseled an evil counsel against themselves,
Chap.19:
You shall seek out every day the faces of the saints, either by word examining them, and going to exhort them, and meditating how to save a soul by the word, or by your hands you shall labour for the redemption of your sins.

At the beginning of the Church after Jesus rose:

Act 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell: nor suffer thy Holy One to see corruption.
1Th 5:23 And may the God of peace himself sanctify you in all things: that your whole spirit and soul and body may be preserved blameless in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb 10:39 But we are not the children of withdrawing unto perdition, but of faith to the saving of the soul.
Jam 5:20 He must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way shall save his soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins.

These are a few, I’m positive there are many more. I pray this helps some.

With love,
George

 

[Hesychios]

There were also some who believed in the pre-existence of the soul (Origen speculated on this, but it did not originate with him). The church decisively rejected that idea.

Michael

 

[Alexius]

“The immortal soul dwells in a mortal tabernacle…” Letter to Diognetus (c. 125-200)

“There are some others [Platonists], who, having supposed the soul to be immortal and immaterial, believe that though they have committed evil they will not suffer punishment (for that which is immaterial is insensible). They also say that the soul, in consequence of its immortality, needs nothing from God.” Justin Martyr (c. 160, E), 1.194

“If the world is begotten, souls also are necessarily begotten. Perhaps at one time they were not in existence . For they were made on account of men and other creatures - that is, if you will say that souls have been begotten wholly apart, and not along with their respective bodies…‘They are not, then, immortal?’ No, since the world has appeared to us to be begotten. But I do not say, indeed, that all souls die. For that would truly be a piece of good fortune to evil persons.” Justin Martyr (c. 160, E), 1.197.

“Even so, whenever the soul must cease to exist, the spirit of life is removed from it, and there is no more soul. Rather, it goes back to the place from where it was taken.” Jusin Martyr (c. 160, E), 1.198.

“It becomes us now to seek for what we once had, but have lost. It becomes us to unite the soul with the Holy Spirit, and to strive after union with God. The human soul consists of many parts, and is not simple. It is composite, so as to manifest itself through the body. For neither could it ever appear by itself without the body, nor does the flesh rise again without the soul.” Tatian (c. 160, E), 2.71.

“Death is the fellowship of the soul in a state of sin with the body. Life is the separation from sin…‘For the world is crucified to me,’ the apostle says. 'And now I live, though in the flesh, as having my conversation in heaven.” Clement of Alexandria (c. 195, E), 2.411.

*Also, you might want to read some of Tertullians writings, as he writes alot on the soul. He writes a good deal about the corporeality of the soul…

Hope this helps!

Prayers and petitions,
Alexius

 

[LP4H]

“Mat 16:26 For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?”

This one’s a little troubling to me. I thought the human soul is inalienable? Is this speaking literally or figuratively?

 

[Alexius]

“Mat 16:26 For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul?”

This one’s a little troubling to me. I thought the human soul is inalienable? Is this speaking literally or figuratively?

Just from my opinion, the “losing” probably has more to do with the eternal bliss of the soul in Heaven. Gaining the temporal at the expense of the eternal. The body without the soul is dead as is the soul apart from the body is dead (that is in this life). Is this death figurative? I believe so, but it may be literal to an extent…

Prayers and petitions,
Alexius

 

[LP4H]

That makes sense to me. Actually, I looked this up in two of my Bibles, they use the term ‘life’ instead, so I don’t know.